About this hackathon
Build AI-Powered Apps & Agents for Small Businesses The best builders don’t just “vibe code.” They use AI to scaffold ideas quickly, then solidify them with proper tools, frameworks, and production-ready architecture. This hackathon is about doing exactly that with Xero. Over one weekend, you’ll build next-gen apps and autonomous agents using Xero’s APIs, MCP Server, CLI, and AI toolkit to solve real small business problems. The Problem Modern small businesses are overwhelmed by: Manual data entry Fragmented tools and workflows Constant tab-switching The result is lost time, inefficiency, and missed opportunities. The Opportunity This hackathon challenges builders to create the next generation of Xero-powered apps and autonomous agents—tools that reclaim time, streamline operations, and help small businesses run smarter. The Approach Participants will: Use vibe coding (natural language prompting) to quickly scaffold functional, user-friendly apps Transition to production-ready architecture using CLIs and frameworks Build systems that are not just fast—but accurate, reliable, and financially trustworthy What You’ll Build Intelligent Apps: Extend Xero with high-utility tools (e.g., inventory management, contractor time tracking) Autonomous Agents: Background workers that take action using Xero data (e.g., chasing overdue invoices or managing vendor interactions) Judging Criteria 50% – Xero Connection (real problem + strong use of Xero) 30% – API Integration (effective use of Accounting/Payments APIs) 20% – Architecture (reliable, production-ready design) Workshops & Support Learn through sessions like: Scaffolding for Small Businesses Mastering the Xero AI Toolkit Vibecoding 101 Get support from Xero teams across API, Product, Engineering, and more. Developer Resources Xero Developer site Getting Started Guide and documentation API Reference API Explorer SDKs and Tools Technical Best Practices AI Toolkit Agentic SDK MCP Server Prompt Library AI Youtube Learning Series
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